Poll

Which Churchill do you want us to do?

Churchill I
2 (2.7%)
Churchill II / IIcs
2 (2.7%)
Churchill III / IV / AVRE
32 (43.2%)
Churchill V / VI
1 (1.4%)
Churchill VII / VIII / Crocodile
37 (50%)

Total Members Voted: 73

Author Topic: Proposed Project: Churchill  (Read 17091 times)

Rubicon Models

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Proposed Project: Churchill
« on: December 01, 2014, 09:29:20 pm »


This is our 2nd Project Survey: Which Churchill do you want us to do?

Please vote using the poll above...


You can also leave your comments and thoughts below...

Here is some background information about the Churchill tank:

Churchill I (303 produced) - Equipped with a 2 pounder gun in the turret (150 rounds), and a coaxial Besa machine gun. There was a 3 inch howitzer in the hull (58 rounds). It was a tank that was noted for poor mechanical reliability. It was the main tank issued to the Canadian forces at Dieppe. It was used in Tunisia and some were still in use late in the war in Italy on the Gothic Line.

Churchill Mk II (1,127 produced) - Replaced the hull howitzer with another machine gun to reduce cost and complexity. Sometimes referred to as "Churchill Ia."

Churchill Mk IICS (Close Support) - Placed the 2pdr gun in the hull and the howitzer in the turret, available in very limited numbers. Sometimes called "Churchill II" Not used in combat.

Churchill Mk III (675 produced) - The III was the first major armament overhaul of the series, eliminating the hull howitzer and equipping the tank with a more powerful 6 pounder gun (84 rounds). Unlike early versions, it had a welded turret. The first Mark to have "catwalks" over the upper track runs.

Churchill Mk IV (1,622 produced) - The IV was the most numerous Churchill produced, and was virtually identical to the III, the largest change being a return to the less costly cast turret. The Mark V 6 pdr was fitted with a counterweight on early models. Some were retrofitted with 75mm guns (see "NA75", below) from Sherman tanks. Others were up-gunned with British 75mm guns, creating the Mk IV (75).

Churchill Mk V (241 produced) - A Churchill equipped with a close support 95 mm howitzer in place of the main gun (47 rounds) in a cast turret. The turret was similar but not identical to the MkIV/VI turrets with a slightly different opening for the gun in the turret front face.

Churchill Mk VI (200 produced) - Along with several minor improvements, eg an additional collar at the turret base protecting the turret race, it was produced as standard with the 75 mm Mk V gun. Few were built due to the near release of the VII and current upgunning of the III / IV.

Churchill Mk VII (A22F) (1,600 with VIII produced) - The second major redesign from previous models, the VII used the 75 mm gun, was wider and had much more armour. It is sometimes called the Heavy Churchill. This version of the Churchill first saw service in the Battle of Normandy, and was re-designated A42 in 1945.

Churchill Mk VIII - A Churchill VII which replaced the main gun with a 95 mm howitzer (47 rounds) in a slightly different turret.

;)
« Last Edit: December 01, 2014, 11:09:33 pm by Rubicon Models »

VolleyfireAndy

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Re: Proposed Project: Churchill
« Reply #1 on: December 01, 2014, 09:48:25 pm »
Whichever comes out, wow!

ripley

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Re: Proposed Project: Churchill
« Reply #2 on: December 01, 2014, 09:58:28 pm »
Probably  best to do 2 kits . A Churchill III/ IV / AVRE ( as all WW2 AVREs were based on the III/IV tank ) and a Churchill VII/ Crocodile version .  The III/IV would have 2 turrets - welded / cast , 3 gun options -6 pdr / 75mm / petrard morter . And a couple of little side bits for the AVRE.( mounting plates  for engineering equipment) . The VII of course needs a different body ( round side doors ) and new turret . Add on the Croc trailer , the trailer hitch / rear end piping and flame gun .

Pinky

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Re: Proposed Project: Churchill
« Reply #3 on: December 02, 2014, 12:29:03 am »
I voted for the Mk III/IV.  I think it's the most important version, and the most common in the Normandy campaign (which seems to dominate other periods amongst WW2 wargamers).  The earlier versions will be confined to the North African/Mediterranean theatre (and Dieppe), which seem to be less popular with wargamers.  I'm not sure a Churchill is the best start for the British - since Warlord already do the Cromwell, I'd rather see you do the Firefly, or a Crusader.
« Last Edit: December 02, 2014, 05:55:00 am by Pinky »

H0ffmn

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Re: Proposed Project: Churchill
« Reply #4 on: December 02, 2014, 01:36:05 am »
I would also like to see a plastic  crusader

jevoli1976

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Re: Proposed Project: Churchill
« Reply #5 on: December 02, 2014, 01:38:29 am »
Churchill III/IV with the NA75 option will be the best for me

Ballardian

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Re: Proposed Project: Churchill
« Reply #6 on: December 02, 2014, 11:22:15 pm »
As with any tank whose service history was comprised of many marks over the whole war, the Churchill presents a few problems - namely you have to produce at least two quite different kits - one for early - mid & one for mid - late war.
 So, with that in mind, my vote would be for one kit to represent MKs III - V & one for Mks VI - VIII (with, if possible representation of some AVRE variants - spigot mortar, 3' howitzer etc).
Dividing them may be problematic as hatches etc. can be in very different positions, which may make 'multi-mark' kits difficult.
As to whether late or early war should come first - I think you might get more bites for one of the 75 armed marks, but I'm sure there are others out there who'd feel differently.

Rubicon Models

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Re: Proposed Project: Churchill
« Reply #7 on: December 03, 2014, 12:25:59 am »
Ballardian: We are quite aware of the difficulties for this project.  This is also why we are posting this survey to see what type of feedback and comments from our fans!

We probably will need to buy a few more reference books, and find some more blueprints and line drawings as research material before we can decide what to do next.  We might postponed this project to a latter date if we find this project too difficult for us at the moment.  Who knows?

;)

Pinky

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Re: Proposed Project: Churchill
« Reply #8 on: December 03, 2014, 12:36:35 am »
"Mr Churchill's Tank" is a good reference book. 

CFRNelson

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Re: Proposed Project: Churchill
« Reply #9 on: September 01, 2016, 02:05:04 am »
The Churchill Mk IV

sandsmodels

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Re: Proposed Project: Churchill
« Reply #10 on: September 01, 2016, 04:41:52 am »
if you do the avre properly then i will obviously sell less avre fitting like i have done for the warlord/italeri one but i can still do loads of conversions and even make the new sbg parts fit it.

stevepalffy

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Re: Proposed Project: Churchill
« Reply #11 on: September 01, 2016, 05:34:53 pm »
Bridge layer and crocodile !

Aircav

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Re: Proposed Project: Churchill
« Reply #12 on: September 22, 2016, 02:03:08 am »
Personally I'd rather you did a Covenanter  ::)
Cheers

Keith

ultravanillasmurf

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Re: Proposed Project: Churchill
« Reply #13 on: September 22, 2016, 02:20:58 am »
Personally I'd rather you did a Covenanter  ::)

Is that because they are immune to everything except airstrikes?

Aircav

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Re: Proposed Project: Churchill
« Reply #14 on: September 22, 2016, 05:48:06 am »
Personally I'd rather you did a Covenanter  ::)

Is that because they are immune to everything except airstrikes?

No it's so that I don't have to build/convert two for my home guard, I've been putting it off for over 2 years now  :-[ :-[
Cheers

Keith